Excess radio-frequency (RF) power storage in RF identification (RFID) tags, and related systems and methods

ABSTRACT

Excess radio-frequency (RF) power storage in RF identification (RFID) tags, and related systems and methods are disclosed. The RFID tag is configured to operate with RF power received in wireless RF signals from a RFID tag antenna if received RF power meets or exceeds an operational threshold power for the RFID tag. The RFID tag is also configured to store excess energy derived from excess received RF power in an energy storage device if the received RF power exceeds the operational threshold power for the RFID tag. Thus, when RF power received by the RFID tag is not sufficient for operation, the RFID tag can operate from power provided by previously stored excess energy in the energy storage device.

PRIORITY APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/710,843, filed on Oct. 8, 2012 and entitled “RFPower Storage And Sharing Between Connected RFID Tags,” which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The present application is also a continuation-in-part application ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/363,808 filed on Feb. 1, 2012 andentitled “Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Connected TagCommunications Protocol and Related Systems and Methods,” which is acontinuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/415,343, filed on Mar. 31, 2009, and entitled “Components, Systems,and Methods for Associating Sensor Data With Component Location,” bothof which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The present application is also a continuation-in-part application ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/363,851 filed on Feb. 1, 2012 andentitled “Protocol for Communications Between a Radio FrequencyIdentification (RFID) Tag and a Connected Device, and Related Systemsand Methods,” which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/415,343, filed on Mar. 31, 2009, and entitled“Components, Systems, and Methods for Associating Sensor Data WithComponent Location,” both of which are incorporated herein by referencein their entireties.

The present application is also a continuation-in-part application ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/363,890 filed on Feb. 1, 2012 andentitled “Communications Between Multiple Radio Frequency Identification(RFID) Connected Tags and One or More Devices, and Related Systems andMethods,” which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/415,343, filed on Mar. 31, 2009, and entitled“Components, Systems, and Methods for Associating Sensor Data WithComponent Location,” both of which incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties.

The present application is also a continuation-in-part application ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/418,752, filed on Mar. 13, 2012 andentitled “Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) in CommunicationConnections, Including Fiber Optic Components,” which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No.61/710,843 filed on Oct. 8, 2012 and entitled “RF Power Storage AndSharing Between Connected RFID Tags” which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

The present application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser.No. 11/590,377, filed on Oct. 31, 2006 and entitled “Radio FrequencyIdentification Transponder For Communicating Condition Of A Component,”which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Disclosure

The field of the disclosure relates to radio-frequency (RF)identification (RFID) tags, also referred to as transponders, andparticularly to powering RFID tags from RF field energy.

Technical Background

It is well known to employ radio frequency (RF) identification (RFID)transponders to identify articles of manufacture. RFID transponders areoften referred to as “RFID tags.” For example, a RFID system could beprovided that includes one or more RFID tags. The RFID tags may includeRF circuitry in the form of an integrated circuit (IC) chip that iscommunicatively coupled to an antenna. The IC chip may also be coupledto memory. An identification number or other characteristic is stored inthe IC chip or memory coupled to the IC chip. The identification numbercan be provided to another system, such as the RFID reader, to provideidentification information for a variety of purposes.

If the RFID tag is an “active” tag having a transmitter, the RFID tagcan transmit the identification information to a RFID reader using powerstored in the RFID tag. Thus, an active RFID tag contains its own powersource, which is typically a battery, for powering an RF transmitter. Incontrast, if the RFID tag is a “passive” tag, the RFID tag does notcontain its own power source. Power to operate a passive RFID tag isreceived through energy contained in a wireless RF signal received bythe RFID tag antenna. The wireless RF signal is transmitted by atransmitter in the RFID reader. A passive RFID tag harvests energy fromthe electro-magnetic field of the wireless RF signal to provide power tothe IC for a passive RFID tag operation and for communications with theRFID reader. A passive RFID tag can respond to receipt of the wirelessRF signal from an RFID reader, including by providing identificationinformation stored in the passive RFID tag, such as via backscattermodulation communications, as an example. In either case of a passive oractive RFID tag, the RFID reader may store information received from theRFID tag in a database and/or report the information to other systemsoutside the RFID system.

It may be desirable to provide a RFID system that can detect events fora plurality of RFID tags. It may be desired to detect these RFID tagevents as they occur. In this example, the RFID tags may be equippedwith event detection capability. For example, events may includeconnection of the RFID tag to another electrical component, connectionof a connector housing the RFID tag to another connection, or activatinga switch associated with the RFID tag, as non-limiting examples. Eventsmay also include detecting environmental conditions, including but notlimited to temperature, pressure, humidity, or light exposures, asnon-limiting examples. Some conditions, including environmentalconditions, may require the RFID tags to be equipped with a conditionevent sensor capable of detecting the condition. A RFID reader providedin the RFID system may communicate with the entire RFID tag populationto determine which RFID tags detected an event and the type of eventthat occurred.

An important limitation of passive RFID tag technology is that wheninsufficient RF power is available from a reader, the RFID tag will beinactive. This is illustrated by example in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a graph 10illustrating RF power 12 received from a RFID reader by a RFID tagantenna of a RFID tag connection in decibels per meter (dBm) as afunction of time (in seconds). A nominal threshold power is required tobe received by the RFID tag antenna to turn on the RFID tag foroperation. This is shown by power level line 14 in FIG. 1 and is assumedto be −16 dBm. In FIG. 1, an RFID tag is experiencing received powerfluctuations, because the RFID reader switches its signal among fourdifferent RFID reader antennas, with equal time devoted to each RFIDreader antenna. The RFID reader changes RFID reader antennas about onceper second. The four different levels of RF power received by the RFIDtag antenna are illustrated in FIG. 1 by power level 16A (about −5 dBm),power level 16B (about −10 dBm), power level 16C (about −18 dBm) andpower level 16D (about −20 dBm), respectively, for the four RFID readerantennas. These different power levels occur because the RFID tag islocated a different distance from each of the four RFID reader antennas.

However, as shown in FIG. 1, the RF power 12 received by the RFID tagantenna from the RFID reader may not always be at or above the nominalthreshold power level 14. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the received RFpower 12 is below the nominal threshold power level 14 about one half ofthe time. This is also referred to as negative power margin for the RFIDtag. As also illustrated in FIG. 1, the RF power 12 received by the RFIDtag antenna from the RFID reader is above the nominal threshold powerlevel 14 about one half of the time. This is also referred to aspositive power margin for the RFID tag. Two of the received RF powerlevels 16C, 16D are below the nominal threshold power level 14 foroperation of the RFID tag and experience negative power margin. Two ofthe received RF power levels 16A, 16B are above the nominal thresholdpower level 14 for operation of the RFID tag and experience positivepower margin. The RFID tag will turn on and off as RFID tag experiencespositive and negative power margin. This negative power marginexperienced at times by a RFID tag can be a problem in varioussituations.

As one non-limiting example, negative power margin in a RFID tag canoccur when the RFID tag is shadowed by objects or other RFID tags.Negative power margin can also occur when metal is in close proximity tothe RFID tag causing an impedance mismatch between the RFID tag and itsRFID tag antenna. Negative power margin can also occur when reflectionsof the RF field of wireless RF signals cause interference or a null inthe region of the RFID tag. Negative power margin can also occur if aRFID reader transmits wireless RF signals at a frequency for which theRFID tag antenna of the RFID tag is unresponsive. Negative power margincan also occur due to a RFID reader switching between different RFIDreader antennas. Negative power margin can also occur when a RFID readerswitches to a RFID reader antenna that is located too far (i.e. out ofrange) from the RFID tag to provide sufficient RF power to the RFID tag.All of these exemplary conditions, and others, can lead to periods oftime during which the RFID tag does not harvest enough RF power from thewireless RF signals to power the RFID tag, thus rendering the RFID taginoperable.

SUMMARY OF THE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments disclosed herein include excess radio-frequency (RF) powerstorage in RF identification (RFID) tags, and related systems andmethods. The RFID tag is configured to be powered from received RF powerin wireless RF signals if the received RF power meets or exceeds anoperational threshold power for the RFID tag. The RFID tag is alsofurther configured to store excess energy derived from excess RF powerin an energy storage device if the received RF power exceeds theoperational threshold power for the RFID tag. In this manner, when thereceived RF power from the RFID tag antenna does not contain sufficientpower to operate the RFID tag, the RFID tag can operate from powerprovided by previously stored excess energy in the energy storagedevice.

In this regard in one embodiment, a radio-frequency identification(RFID) tag is provided. The RFID tag comprises an integrated circuit(IC). The RFID tag also comprises an antenna electrically coupled to theIC, the antenna configured to receive RF power from received wireless RFsignals. The RFID tag also comprises an energy storage device coupled tothe IC. The RFID tag also comprises a power manager configured toreceive the RF power received by the antenna. The power manager is alsoconfigured to operate the IC with the received RF power if the receivedRF power meets or exceeds an operational threshold power for the IC. Thepower manager is also configured to store excess energy derived fromexcess received RF power in the energy storage device, if the receivedRF power exceeds the operational threshold power for the IC. In certainembodiments, the power manager is also configured to access the storedenergy in the energy storage device to provide power to operate the IC,if the received RF power from the antenna is less than the operationalthreshold power for the IC.

In another embodiment, a method of providing power for radio-frequencyidentification (RFID) tag operation is provided. The method comprisesreceiving wireless RF signals including RF power by an antenna coupledto an integrated circuit (IC). The method also comprises operating theIC with the received RF power if the received RF power meets or exceedsan operational threshold power for the IC. The method also comprisesstoring excess energy derived from excess received RF power in theenergy storage device if the received RF power exceeds the operationalthreshold power for the IC. The method may also comprise accessing thestored energy in the energy storage device to provide power to operatethe IC if the received RF power from the antenna is less than theoperational threshold power for the IC.

Related excess RFID tag power storage and power RFID tags and relatedRFID tag connections systems and methods are also disclosed herein thatcan employ the excess RF power storing RFID tags described above. TheRFID tag connection system allows connected RFID tags to store excessenergy derived from excess received RF power in a shared energy storagedevice. In this manner, an individual RFID tag or a group of connectedRFID tags in the RFID tag connection system can continue operationduring temporary times when sufficient RF power is not being receivedfrom a RFID reader. Sharing stored energy derived from excess receivedRF power in a shared energy storage device among connected RFID tags ina RFID tag connection system can significantly mitigate problems of RFpower interruption.

The above-described aspects and features can provide improved systemperformance of an RFID reader and one or more RFID tags (particularlymultiple RFID tags joined together) in terms of tag readability andoperability. Particularly in an application that relies on continuoustag operability (even for a limited time, such as in the presence of aRFID reader, for example), and in which system degradation occurswhenever a RFID tag is not powered and operating, it is desired or maybe required that all RFID tags maintain continuous power delivery tooperate the RFID tag. The features of this disclosure, individually orin combination, can maximize the probability that any given RFID tag canmaintain continuous operation by allowing excess harvested reader RFpower during some periods to be available as stored energy to power therespective RFID tag during periods of insufficient reader RF powerharvesting from a wireless RF signal from a RFID reader.

Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detaileddescription which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing theembodiments as described herein, including the detailed description thatfollows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description present embodiments, and are intendedto provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature andcharacter of the embodiments. The accompanying drawings are included toprovide a further understanding of the embodiments, and are incorporatedinto and constitute a part of this specification. The drawingsillustrate various embodiments of the embodiments and together with thedescription serve to explain the principles and operation of theembodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a graph illustrating exemplary received RF power from a RFIDreader by a RFID tag antenna of an exemplary RFID tag as a function oftime;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary RFID tagconfigured to store excess energy derived from excess received RF powerin an energy storage device when the RFID tag experiences positive powermargin, and access stored energy in the energy storage device to providepower to operate the RFID tag when the RFID tag experiences negativepower margin;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process of the RFID tagin FIG. 2 storing excess energy derived from excess received RF power inthe energy storage device during positive power margin conditions, andaccessing stored energy in the energy storage device to provide power tooperate the RFID tag when sufficient RF power is not available for RFIDtag operation during negative power margin conditions;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary RFID integrated circuit(IC) chip provided in the RFID tag in FIG. 2, wherein exemplarycomponents involved with energy storage derived from excess received RFpower and energy sharing provided in the RFID IC chip are illustrated;

FIG. 5 illustrates a top perspective view of an exemplary excess RFpower storage and power sharing RFID tag connection system comprised oftwo RFID tag-equipped duplex LC fiber optic connectors electricallyconnected at an intermediary RFID tag-equipped duplex LC fiber opticadapter;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary excess RF powerstorage and power sharing RFID tag connection system (“RFID tagconnection system”) that can be provided in the RFID tag connectionsystem of FIG. 5, the RFID tag connection system comprised of threeexemplary electrically connected RFID tags, wherein the RFID tags areconfigured to store excess energy derived from excess received RF powerin shared energy storage devices when the RFID tag experiences positivepower margin, and accessing stored energy in the shared energy storagedevice to provide power to operate a RFID tag(s) when the RFID tag(s)experiences negative power margin;

FIG. 7A is a graph illustrating exemplary charging current available tocharge capacitors in the shared energy storage device in the RFID tagconnection system in FIGS. 5 and 6 as a function of RFID tag powermargin, for certain connection combinations of the RFID tags, when acharge pump is employed in the RFID tags to increase the voltageattainable across the shared energy storage devices;

FIG. 7B is a graph illustrating exemplary charging current available tocharge capacitors in the shared energy storage device in the RFID tagconnection system in FIGS. 5 and 6 as a function of RFID tag powermargin, for certain connection combinations of the RFID tags, when acharge pump is not employed in the RFID tags;

FIG. 8A is a graph illustrating exemplary times to fully chargecapacitor banks in the shared energy storage device in the RFID tagconnection system in FIGS. 5 and 6 at start-up as a function of RFID tagpower margin, for certain connection combinations of the RFID tags, whena charge pump is employed in the RFID tags;

FIG. 8B is a graph illustrating exemplary times to fully chargecapacitor banks in the shared energy storage device in the RFID tagconnection system in FIGS. 5 and 6 at start-up as a function of RFID tagpower margin, for certain connection combinations of the RFID tags, whena charge pump is not employed in the RFID tags;

FIG. 9A is a graph illustrating exemplary times that certain connectioncombinations of RFID tags in the RFID tag in FIG. 2 and the RFID tagconnection system in FIGS. 5 and 6 can remain operational after losingRF power by accessing stored energy from the shared energy storagedevice, when a charge pump is employed in the RFID tags;

FIG. 9B is a graph illustrating exemplary times that certain connectioncombinations of RFID tags in the RFID tag in FIG. 2 and the RFID tagconnection system in FIGS. 5 and 6 can remain operational after losingRF power by accessing stored energy from the shared energy storagedevice, when a charge pump is not employed in the RFID tags;

FIG. 10A is a graph illustrating exemplary capacitor bank voltage as afunction of time for a single RFID tag, such as the RFID tag in FIG. 2,from startup of the RFID tag during positive power margin times of theRFID tag, when a charge pump is employed in the RFID tag;

FIG. 10B is a graph illustrating exemplary capacitor bank voltage as afunction of time for a single RFID tag, such as the RFID tag in FIG. 2,from startup of the RFID tag during positive power margin times of theRFID tag, when a charge pump is not employed in the RFID tag;

FIGS. 11A-11C are graphs illustrating exemplary received RF power byRFID tag antennas of three exemplary electrically connected RFID tags asa function of time in the RF power storage and power sharing in the RFIDtag connection system of FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIGS. 12A-12C are graphs illustrating exemplary on/off states of threeexemplary electrically connected RFID tags as a function of time whenthe excess RF power storage and power sharing in the RFID tag connectionsystem of FIGS. 5 and 6 is employed;

FIG. 13 is a graph illustrating exemplary possible current available topower a visual indicator of the RFID tag in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of exemplary application that includesexcess RF power storage and power sharing RFID tag connection systems.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, examples ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which some, butnot all embodiments are shown. Indeed, the embodiments may be embodiedin many different forms and should not be construed as limiting herein;rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure willsatisfy applicable legal requirements. Whenever possible, like referencenumbers will be used to refer to like components or parts.

Embodiments disclosed herein include excess radio-frequency (RF) powerstorage in RF identification (RFID) tags, and related systems andmethods. The RFID tag is configured to be powered from received RF powerin wireless RF signals if the received RF power meets or exceeds anoperational threshold power for the RFID tag. The RFID tag is alsofurther configured to store excess RF energy from RF power in thereceived wireless RF signals exceeding the operational threshold powerfor the RFID tag in an energy storage device. In this manner, when thereceived RF power from the RFID tag antenna does not contain sufficientpower to operate the RFID tag, the RFID tag can operate from powerpreviously stored in the energy storage device.

Related excess RFID tag power storage and power sharing RFID tags, andrelated RFID tag connections systems and methods are also disclosedherein that can employ the excess RF power storing RFID tags describedabove. The RFID tag connection system allows connected RFID tags tostore excess energy derived from excess received RF power in a sharedenergy storage device. In this manner, an individual RFID tag or a groupof connected RFID tags in the RFID tag connection system can continueoperation during temporary times when sufficient RF power is not beingreceived from a RFID reader. Sharing stored energy derived from excessreceived RF power in a shared energy storage device among connected RFIDtags in a RFID tag connection system can significantly mitigate problemsof RF power interruption.

In this regard, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplaryRFID tag 20 configured to store excess energy derived from excessreceived RF power from a RFID reader 22 in an energy storage device 36when the RFID tag 20 experiences positive power margin. As will also bediscussed below, the RFID tag 20 in FIG. 2 is also configured to accessstored energy in the energy storage device 36 to provide power tooperate the RFID tag 20 when the RFID tag 20 experiences negative powermargin. The RFID tag 20 may be a passive RFID tag, semi-active RFID tag,or active RFID tag. However, the excess RF power storage and energyaccess features of the RFID tag 20 may be particularly useful forpassive RFID tags that require external RF power to be received by aRFID tag antenna 26 (or “antenna 26”) of the RFID tag 20. The RFID tagantenna 26 in FIG. 2 is a monopole antenna. However, the RFID tagantenna 26 can be any type of antenna desired, including but not limitedto a monopole antenna, a dipole antenna, a slot antenna, and a loopantenna. An optional matching network 27 may also be included to provideimpedance matching between the RFID tag antenna 26 and the RFID tag 20,if needed or desired.

Positive power margin (i.e., excess power) for the RFID tag 20 is afunction of the output power of the wireless RF signals received by theRFID tag 20 from the RFID reader 22 minus the RF power required to turnon the RFID IC 28. For example, the Federal Communications Commission(FCC) limits output power delivered to a RFID reader antenna to thirty(30) dBm (for antenna gain<6 dBi), or 1 Watt (W). There will be lossespresent between the RFID reader 22 antenna and the RFID tag antenna 26that govern the level of RF power reaching the RFID tag 20.Experimentally, the power margin of a RFID tag in a given system ismeasured by gradually increasing the RFID reader output power anddetermining the minimum output power at which the RFID tag first turnson and is able to communicate with the RFID reader. For example,consider the RFID tag 20 that is first detected by the RFID reader 22when the RFID reader 22 output power is at 17 dBm during a power marginmeasurement. In this example, the power margin of the RFID tag 20 wouldbe 13 dB (30 dB-17 dB). This means the RFID tag 20 would experience anRF field strength 13 dB higher than required for operation in thisexample, which is positive power margin.

With continuing reference to FIG. 2, the RFID tag antenna 26 of the RFIDtag 20 is electrically coupled to a RFID integrated circuit (IC) 28 (or“IC 28”). For example, the RFID IC 28 may be provided in the form of anRFID IC chip 30. The RFID IC 28 contains circuitry for operation of theRFID tag 20, including receiver circuitry configured to receive wirelessRF signal 32 transmitted by the RFID reader 22. The wireless RF signals32 are received by the RFID tag antenna 26 if the RFID tag antenna 26 isin transmission range of the RFID reader 22 and the RFID tag antenna 26is configured to receive a signal frequency or signal frequencies of thewireless RF signals 32. The RFID IC 28 may also contain memory 34 thatcan be used to store information relating to the RFID tag 20, such asidentification information or other information desired. Thisinformation can be communicated by the RFID tag 20 to the RFID reader 22for any use or purpose desired. The RFID IC 28 may also be configured tostore other information in memory 34 and communicate this informationassociated with the RFID tag 20 or components associated with the RFIDtag 20.

The RFID tag 20 in FIG. 2 requires a certain amount of power to turn onthe RFID IC 28. In this regard, the RFID tag 20 is configured to use RFpower contained in the wireless RF signals 32 received by the RFID tagantenna 26 of the RFID tag 20 for operational power. The RF power can beprovided to the RFID IC 28 to provide power for RFID tag 20 operation.If the RFID tag 20 is a passive RFID tag, the RF power received in thewireless RF signals 32 is the only form of external power provided tothe RFID tag 20 for operation. In this example, power for RFID tag 20operation must be at or above an operational threshold power for theRFID IC 28. The RFID IC 28 may also require a defined minimum thresholdvoltage to be turned on for operation. As an example, the minimumthreshold voltage to turn on the RFID IC 28 may be 1.0 Volt (V) as anon-limiting example. When RF power from the received wireless RFsignals 32 is sufficient to meet or exceed the operational thresholdpower for the RFID IC 28, the RFID tag 20 is operational. However, ifthe RF power from the received wireless RF signals 32 does not meet orexceed the operational threshold power for the RFID IC 28, the RFID IC28 cannot be turned on for RFID tag 20 operation unless another powersource is provided.

In this regard as illustrated in FIG. 2, the energy storage device 36 isprovided in the RFID tag 20. The capacitor bank 38 of the energy storagedevice 36 is configured to store excess energy derived from received RFpower from the received wireless RF signals 32 in excess of RF powerconsumed to turn on and operate the RFID IC 28. This excess energy thatcan be stored in the energy storage device 36 of the RFID tag 20 duringpositive power margin conditions is also referred to herein as “excessreceived RF power.” If the RFID tag 20 is a semi-active RFID tag thatcontains a battery for operation, the energy storage device 36 could beor include a battery of semi-passive RFID tag, which could be charged(e.g., trickle charged) from the excess received RF power. The RF powerneeded to turn on and operate the RFID tag 20 is known as theoperational threshold power for the RFID tag 20. Thus, when wireless RFsignals 32 are not being received by the RFID tag 20 or the RF power inthe received wireless RF signals 32 is not sufficient to turn on andoperate the RFID IC 28, a “negative power margin” condition exists inthe RFID tag 20. In this scenario, stored energy previously stored inthe capacitor bank 38 during positive power margin conditions of theRFID tag 20 can be accessed to provide power to turn on and/or maintainan existing operational state of the RFID tag 20.

With continuing reference to FIG. 2, the energy storage device 36 may beor include a capacitor bank 38. The capacitor bank 38 can include one ormore capacitors. The capacitor bank 38 in this example in FIG. 2includes four capacitors 38(1)-38(4), each of 4.7 microFarads (μf),which are provided and connected in parallel to form the capacitor bank38. In this embodiment, the capacitor bank 38 is electrically connectedon one side to ground node 40A and on the other side to DC input/output(DCIO) power node 40B which is connected to power import/export switch42. Thus, when wireless RF signals 32 are being received by the RFID tag20 with sufficient power to turn on the RFID tag 20 and excess powerexists, a “positive power margin” condition exists in the RFID tag 20.In this scenario, the power import/export switch 42 connects thecapacitor bank 38 to export node (EXP) 40D to store the excess energyderived from the received excess RF power in the capacitor bank 38.However, when wireless RF signals 32 are not being received by the RFIDtag 20, or the RF power in the received wireless RF signals 32 is notsufficient to turn on and operate the RFID tag 20, a “negative powermargin” condition exists in the RFID tag 20. In this scenario, theenergy previously stored in the capacitor bank 38 during positive powermargin conditions can be accessed to provide power to turn on and/ormaintain an existing operational state of the RFID tag 20 when powerimport/export switch 42 is set to connect the capacitor bank 38 toimport node (IMP) 40C. In this regard, the power import/export switch 42may a single pole, double throw switch to switch between import node 40Cand export node 40D, as a non-limiting example.

Note that in FIG. 2 as discussed above, multiple capacitors 38(1)-38(4)are provided and disposed in parallel to each other in the capacitorbank 38. There may be several reasons to provide multiple capacitors ina capacitor bank 38. A single capacitor of desired capacitance may notbe available. Also, it may be more feasible to provide several smallercapacitors to form a total desired capacitance of the capacitance bank38 due to packaging or other geometric limits or considerations. Also,it may be desired to provide multiple capacitors coupled in parallel toprovide the total capacitance of a given capacitor bank 38 forredundancy purposes. In this manner, if any capacitor 38(1)-38(4) in thecapacitor bank 38 fails to open, the other capacitors 38(1)-38(4) maystill be operational in the energy storage device 36 to store excessenergy during positive power margin conditions and provide access tostored energy during negative power margin conditions.

The ability of the RFID tag 20 in FIG. 2 to turn on and/or maintainoperability during negative power margin conditions can be importantdepending on the application employing the RFID tag 20. For example, theRFID tag 20 can be shadowed by objects or other RFID tags causing theRFID tag 20 to not receive the wireless RF signal 32 or wireless RFsignals 32 containing insufficient RF power for RFID tag 20 operation.As another example, metal in close proximity to the RFD tag 20 couldcause an impedance mismatch between the RFID tag 20 and its RFID tagantenna 26, thereby reducing RF power received by the RFID tag antenna26. Negative power margin conditions can also occur due to reflectionsof a RF field, which can cause interference or a signal reception nullin the region of the RFID tag 20. Negative power margin conditions canalso occur if the RFID reader 22 transmits the wireless RF signals 32 ata frequency for which the RFID tag antenna 26 is unresponsive. Negativepower margin conditions can also occur due to a RFID reader switchingbetween different RFID reader antennas. Negative power margin conditionscan also occur when a RFID reader switches to a RFID reader antenna thatis located too far (i.e., out of RF range) from the RFID tag to providesufficient RF power to the RFID tag. All of these negative power marginconditions can lead to periods of time during which the RFID tag 20 doesnot harvest enough RF power from the wireless RF signals 32 tosufficiently power the RFID tag 20 for operation.

The RFID IC 28 can be provided with capability of managing RF powerduring positive and negative power margin conditions. In this regardwith continuing reference to FIG. 2, a power manager 44 is provided inthe RFID IC 28 in this example of the RFID tag 20. The power manager 44is circuitry configured to manage power for operation of the RFID tag20. The power manager 44 receives the RF power contained in the wirelessRF signals 32 received by the RFID tag antenna 26 and controls the RFpower for operating the RFID tag 20. Note that more than one RFID tagantenna may be provided if desired. The power manager 44 is configuredto control the storage of excess energy derived from excess received RFpower from the received wireless RF signals 32 in the energy storagedevice 36 during positive power margin conditions. The power manager 44is also configured to control the access of energy previously stored inthe energy storage device 36 to provide operational power to the RFIDtag 20 when sufficient RF power is not available for RFID tag 20operation in negative power margin conditions. In this regard, FIG. 3 isa flowchart illustrating an exemplary process of the power manager 44 inthe RFID tag 20 in FIG. 2 to manage power for the RFID tag 20.

In this regard as illustrated in FIG. 3, the process begins in astart-up condition. In the start-up condition, the RFID tag 20 has notbeen previously powered for operation, or has been inoperable for aperiod of time after the power remaining in the energy storage device 36is insufficient to maintain operability of the RFID IC 28. During thestart-up condition, the RFID tag antenna 26 of the RFID tag 20 receivesRF power in received wireless RF signals 32 sufficient to initiateoperation of the RFID tag 20 in a positive power margin condition (block50). The start-up of the RFID tag 20 can only occur when the RFID tag 20is in a positive power margin condition, because the RFID tag 20 has tofirst be operational before the power manager 44 can operate to storeexcess energy derived from excess received RF power in the energystorage device 36 and access stored energy from the energy storagedevice 36.

With continuing reference to FIG. 3, after the start-up condition forthe RFID tag 20 has occurred (block 50), the power manager 44 in theRFID IC 28 is operational. The power manager 44 determines if the RFpower in the received wireless RF signals 32 is sufficient for RFID tag20 operation, meaning a positive power margin condition exists (block52). The power manager 44 may be configured to determine if the receivedRF voltage and/or current in the received wireless RF signals 32 issufficient for RFID tag 20 operation, meaning a positive power margincondition exists (block 52). For example, as previously discussed above,the power manager 44 can determine if the RF power in the receivedwireless RF signals 32 meets or exceeds the operational threshold powerfor the RFID tag 20. The voltage level of the RF power in the receivedwireless RF signals 32 may be used by the power manager 44 to determinewhether the received RF power meets or exceeds the operational thresholdof the RFID tag 20, because a minimum voltage may be required to turn onthe RFID tag 20.

After RFID tag 20 start-up, the RF power in the received wireless RFsignals 32 should initially meet or exceed the operational thresholdpower for the RFID tag 20. This is because the start-up condition occurswhen sufficient power cannot be accessed (i.e., drawn) from the energystorage device 36 for RFID tag 20 operation. In this instance, the powermanager 44 operates the RFID IC 28 with the RF power in the receivedwireless RF signals 32 (block 54). Any excess energy in the received RFpower beyond the power needed to operate the RFID IC 28 (i.e., in excessof the operational threshold power for the RFID tag 20) is stored in theenergy storage device 36 by the power manager 44 setting powerimport/export switch 42 in FIG. 2 to connect the energy storage device36 to export node 40D. The power import/export switch 42 may be providedas part of the RFID IC 28 as shown in FIG. 2, or external to the RFID IC28. As previously discussed, excess energy derived from excess receivedRF power and stored in energy storage device 36 during positive powermargin conditions can be accessed during negative power marginconditions to allow for continued RFID tag 20 operation.

With continuing reference to FIG. 3, the power manager 44 continues todetermine if RFID tag 20 is in a positive power margin condition (block52). The power manager 44 determines if the RF power in the receivedwireless RF signals 32 is sufficient for RFID tag 20 operation, meaninga positive power margin condition exists (block 52). If the powermanager 44 determines that the RFID tag 20 is in negative power margincondition (block 52), the power manager 44 sets the power import/exportswitch 42 in FIG. 2 to connect the energy storage device 36 to importnode 40C to access stored energy (e.g., current) stored in the energystorage device 36 to provide power for continued RFID tag 20 operation(block 56). The power manager 44 continues to determine if RFID tag 20is in a positive power margin condition to store excess energy derivedfrom excess received RF power in the energy storage device 36 (block54); or in a negative power margin condition (block 52) to access storedenergy in the energy storage device 36 (block 56) to provide power forcontinued RFID tag 20 operation. If energy stored in the energy storagedevice 36 is ever completely drained for RFID tag 20 operation, the RFIDtag 20 will become idle in this embodiment. The RFID tag 20 can becomeoperational again as a result of the start-up condition described abovewherein RF power from received wireless RF signals 32 is sufficient tooperate the RFID tag 20 (block 50).

With reference back to FIG. 2, the RFID tag 20 may also include anoptional condition responsive device 58 that is coupled between the GNDnode 40A and a digital input (DI) node 40E. The condition responsivedevice 58 may provide an alternative method of accessing stored energyin the energy storage device 36 to provide power to the RFID tag 20. Forexample, if the condition responsive device 58 is a push button switch,it may be desired to provide the condition responsive device 58 to allowa technician to activate the switch to provide power from stored energyin the energy storage device 36. The stored energy may be used toprovide power to turn on the RFID tag 20 and/or any of its components(e.g., the visual indicator described below), when desired by atechnician in addition to the power control provided by the powermanager 44 for the RFID tag 20. The condition responsive device 58 mayalso be any other type of switch that can sense a condition about orrelating to the RFID tag 20, including environmental, operational, andcontact conditions. Non-limiting examples of environmental conditionsinclude temperature, humidity, pressure, light exposure, resistance,inductance, and/or capacitance. Non-limiting examples of operationalconditions include the status of the RFID tag 20, and resistance,inductance, and/or capacitance associated with the RFID tag 20.Non-limiting examples of contact conditions include contact of acomponent, such as a switch, associated with the RFID tag 20, touchingthe RFID tag 20, and connection of a component associated with the RFIDtag 20 to another device or component.

With continuing reference to FIG. 2, the condition responsive device 58could also be configured to indicate the occurrence of a condition orevent to the IC 28. The IC 28 of the RFID tag 20 could be configured toreport the occurrence of the detected condition or event by activationof the condition responsive device 58 to the RFID reader 22. Forexample, the RFID reader 22 may log the condition and/or provideinformation to the technician in connection with the RFID tag 20, suchas a proper connection between a component carrying the RFID tag 20 andanother component. Because the energy storage device 36 is provided, theRFID tag 20 can be configured to be powered from the energy storagedevice 36 to detect and report the occurrence of a detected conditioneven when the RFID tag antenna 26 is not receiving sufficient RF powerto operate the RFID tag 20 and detect and report the occurrence of thedetected condition. More information regarding this example is providedin U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/590,377 entitled “Radio FrequencyIdentification Transponder For Communicating Condition Of A Component,”which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

To further explain exemplary components that may be provided in the RFIDIC 28 of the RFID tag 20 to provide excess RF power storage and theoperations in FIG. 3, FIG. 4 is provided. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagramof exemplary internal components of the RFID IC chip 30 provided in theRFID tag 20 in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the RFID IC chip 30 containsa power rectifier 60 configured to rectify RF power received in thewireless RF signal 32 by the RFID tag antenna 26. The power rectifier 60is coupled to antenna pins 62A and 62B, which are coupled to the RFIDtag antenna 26 shown in FIG. 2. The RF power rectified by the powerrectifier 60 is provided over power communications line 64 to the powermanager 44. The power manager 44 can be configured to operate the IC 28with rectified voltage from the power rectifier 60 if the rectifiedvoltage meets or exceeds an operational threshold voltage for the IC 28.The power manager 44 can also be configured operate the IC 28 withcurrent derived from the power rectifier 60 if the current meets orexceeds an operational threshold current for the IC 28.

With continuing reference to FIG. 4, the power manager 44 is configuredto control the distribution of the RF power received from the powerrectifier 60 according to exemplary operation described above in FIG. 3.As previously discussed above in FIG. 3, the power manager 44 controlsthe power import/export switch 42 to control storage of excess energyderived from excess received RF power in the energy storage device 36(block 54 in FIG. 3) and access stored energy from the energy storagedevice 36 (block 56), respectively, for continued RFID tag 20 operation(block 56). For example, the power manager 44 can be configured tocontrol the power import/export switch 42 to store excess energy in theenergy storage device 36 when the voltage derived from the excessreceived RF power exceeds an operational threshold voltage for the IC28. Alternatively, the power manager 44 can configured to control thepower import/export switch 42 to store excess energy in the energystorage device 36 when the current derived from the excess received RFpower exceeds an operational threshold current for the IC 28.

A control line 66 is provided between the power manager 44 and the powerimport/output switch 42 in this embodiment. The power manager 44communicates a signal over control line 66 to a control node 40F tocontrol whether the power import/export switch 42 is set to connectexport node 40D to the energy storage device 36 to store excess energyderived from excess received RF power, or set to connect import node 40Cto the energy storage device 36 to access stored energy from the energystorage device 36 for RFID tag 20 operation. Excess energy derived fromexcess received RF power is provided from the power manager 44 overpower supply line 68 to the power import/export switch 42 to be directedto and stored in the energy storage device 36. Accessed energy from theenergy storage device 36 to provide power is provided from the powerimport/export switch 42 over power access line 69 to the power manager44 to be distributed to components of the RFID IC chip 30 to power theRFID tag 20. For example, the power manager 44 can be configured toaccess stored excess energy in the energy storage device 36 if a voltagederived from the received RF power is less than an operational thresholdvoltage for the IC 28. Alternatively, the power manager 44 can beconfigured to access stored excess energy in the energy storage device36 if a current derived from received RF power is less than theoperational threshold current for the IC 28.

With continuing reference to FIG. 4, control logic 70 is also providedin the RFID IC chip 30 and is coupled to the power manager 44. Thecontrol logic 70 is also configured to access received RF power from thepower manager 44 to operate optional visual indicator 72 if sufficientRF power is present for operation. The control logic 70 may beconfigured to access received RF power from the power manager 44 tooperate only the visual indicator 72, only the RFID IC 28, or both thevisual indicator 72 and the RFID IC 28, based on design andconfiguration of the power manager 44. In one embodiment, the powermanager 44 uses received RF power to power the RFID IC 28 as higherpriority over the visual indicator 72. The power manager 44 isconfigured to direct RF power received from wireless RF signal 32 inpositive power margin conditions and access stored energy from theenergy storage device 36 in negative power conditions, as previouslydescribed. The visual indicator 72 may be provided to allow the RFID tag20 to provide visual indications of status or other information to ahuman user or technician for any purpose or application desired. Thevisual indicator 72 may be a light emitting diode (LED) as anon-limiting example. Also, the visual indicator 72 may be activated toemit light in patterns, such as flashing, and in differentperiodicities, to indicate different statuses. The visual indicator 72may be controlled according to the embodiments disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 7,965,186 entitled “Passive RFID Elements having Visual Indicators,”which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

With continuing reference to FIG. 4, the control logic 70 controls orgates whether RF power is accessed from the power manager 44. Thecontrol logic 70 contains circuitry to determine when the visualindicator 72 should be activated. If the visual indicator 72 should beactivated, the control logic 70 accesses power from the power manager 44to activate the visual indicator 72. In this instance, the powerrequired to activate the visual indicator 72 may be considered as partof the operational threshold power for the RFID IC 28 to be consideredby the power manager 44 to determine if excess RF energy in RF powerfrom the received wireless RF signals 32 is present according to block52 in FIG. 3, previously described above. Alternatively, the powerrequired to activate the visual indicator 72 may be considered anadditional visual indicator threshold energy (e.g., includes minimum of0.7 V) that is added to the operational threshold power for the RFID IC28 for consideration of power requirements by the power manager 44 forRFID tag 20 operation. In either case, the power manager 44 can beconfigured to activate a visual indicator 72 with received RF power fromthe RFID tag antenna 26 if the RF power is sufficient for RFID IC 28operation and visual indicator 72 operation. The power manager 44 canalso be configured to activate a visual indicator 72 with accessed RFpower from the energy storage device 36 if sufficient RF power is notavailable from the received wireless RF signals 32 for RFID IC 28operation and visual indicator 72 operation.

With continuing reference to FIG. 4, an optional current limiter 74 maybe provided between the control logic 70 and the visual indicator 72.The current limiter 74 limits current accessed from the power manager 44according to the specifications of the visual indicator 72 and conservespower access for the visual indicator 72, as desired or needed. Forexample, it may not be required to access the maximum current possibleto be accessed by the visual indicator 72 to provide sufficient lightintensity for the RFID tag 20 to sufficiently indicate a status or otherinformation to a human operator or technician.

To increase the maximum voltage attainable across the energy storagedevice 36, an optional charge pump 76 may also be employed in the RFIDIC chip 30, as illustrated in FIG. 4 As shown in FIG. 4, the charge pump76 is coupled between the power manager 44 and the power import/exportswitch 42 in the power supply line 68 in this embodiment. For example,the charge pump 76 being at eighty percent (80%) efficiency may be ableto take excess direct current (DC) currents available from the powermanager 44 from the excess energy derived from excess received RF powerand charge up the energy storage device 36 at twice the operationalthreshold voltage of the RFID IC 28 and with a current equal to half theRFID IC's 28 output current multiplied by the efficiency factor. Forexample, the charge pump 76 may take an input DC voltage of the excesspower in the range of 1.0-1.5 V on the power supply line 68 and increasea DC output voltage of the excess RF power in the range of 2.0-3.0 VDC.The charge pump 76 may also be employed to provide a sufficient voltagein the energy storage device 36 to operate both the RFID IC 28 and theexternal visual indicator 72 for the visual indicator operation. Thecharge pump 76 may be desired or required to provide a high enough RFpower voltage to operate both the RFID IC 28 and the external visualindicator 72.

The RFID tag 20 in FIG. 2 can be employed in applications to identifyand track articles of manufacture. In this regard, the RFID tag 20 couldbe attached or integrated to a component to be identified and/ortracked. RFID technology can also be useful in mapping connectionsbetween connectors and adapters as part of a RFID tag connection system.For example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/418,752 filed on Mar.13, 2012 and entitled “Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) inCommunication Connections, Including Fiber Optic Components,” andincorporated herein by reference in its entirety, describes a RFID tagconnection system between fiber optic connectors and adapters. Anon-limiting example of such a RFID tag connection system 80 that canemploy the RFID tag 20 in FIG. 2 is illustrated in FIG. 5.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, two fiber optic connectors 82(1), 82(2) eachconnected to respective fiber optic cables 84(1), 84(2), are opticallyconnected by connection to a fiber optic adapter 86. The fiber opticconnectors 82(1), 82(2) and fiber optic adapter 86 in FIG. 5 are duplexLC connectors and adapters, but could be any other type of connector andadapter. Each of the fiber optic connectors 82(1), 82(2) contains a RFIDtag 20(1), 20(2), as illustrated in FIG. 5. The fiber optic adapter 86also contains a RFID tag 20(3), as illustrated in FIG. 5. The RFID tags20(1)-20(3) can be integrated into the housings 88(1), 88(2) of thefiber optic connectors 82(1), 82(2) and housing 90 of the fiber opticadapter 86, respectively, as described in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 12/774,898. The RFID tags 20(1)-20(3) in this embodiment are likethe RFID tag 20 in FIG. 2 that contains the energy storage device 36 andpower manager 44 in the RFID IC 28 to store excess energy derived fromexcess received RF power for operating the RFID tag 20 when sufficientexternal RF power is not being received by the RFID tag 20.

With continuing reference to FIG. 5, and as also described in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/774,898, the RFID tags 20(1)-20(3) arealso configured to be electrically connected to each other. In thismanner, the RFID tags 20(1)-20(3) can communicate with each other overelectrical connections to exchange and store each other's identityinformation representative of connections between the fiber opticconnectors 82(1), 82(2) and the fiber optic adapter 86. A RFID reader,such as the RFID reader 22 in FIG. 2, can interrogate the RFID tags20(1)-20(3) to obtain the exchanged identity information as beingrepresentative of connections. The RFID reader 22 (or other system thatcan communicate with the RFID reader 22) can therefore track connectionsin addition to location and/or other information about the fiber opticconnectors 82(1), 82(2) and the fiber optic adapter 86. However, if anyof the RFID tags 20(1)-20(3) are not receiving sufficient RF power forRFID tag operation and do not have enough stored energy in its energystorage device 36 for RFID tag operation, such RFID tag 20(1)-20(3)would not be operational for exchanging and maintaining exchangedidentity information with other operable RFID tags 20(1)-20(3). However,as discussed in more detail below, the energy storage devices 36 of therespective RFID tags 20(1)-20(3) can be electrically coupled together toform a shared energy storage device when the fiber optic connectors82(1), 82(2) are connected to the fiber optic adapter 86 in FIG. 5, suchthat excess RF energy stored in any RFID's 20(1)-20(3) energy storagedevices 36 can be accessed by any other RFID tag 20(1)-20(3) foroperational power.

In this regard, FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the exemplaryexcess RF power storage and power sharing RFID tag connection system 80(referred to herein as “RFID tag connection system 80”) in FIG. 5described above. The RFID tag connection system 80 includes the threeRFID tags 20(1)-20(3) previously referenced and described with regard toFIG. 5. Other components of the RFID tags 20(1)-20(3) in the RFID tagconnection system 80 in FIG. 6 that are common to components in RFID tag20 in FIG. 2 are labeled with common element numbers, but noted withparenthesis (e.g., 20(2)) to identify multiple versions.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, each RFID tag 20(1)-20(3) has an associatedenergy storage device 36(1)-36(3). Each energy storage device36(1)-36(3) may have the same energy storage capacity or differentenergy storage capacities depending on design. The RFID tags 20(1),20(3) include conductors 90(1), 90(2), respectively, that are configuredto electrically connect the energy storage devices 36(1) and 36(3)together when the fiber optic connector 82(1) is connected to fiberoptic adapter 86. The RFID tags 20(2), 20(3) also include conductors90(4), 90(3), respectively, that are configured to electrically connectthe energy storage devices 36(2) and 36(3) together when the fiber opticconnector 82(2) is connected to fiber optic adapter 86. In this manner,these electrical connections couple the energy storage devices36(1)-36(3) together to form a shared energy storage device 92. When apower manger 44(1)-44(3) of a RFID tag 20(1)-20(3) stores excess energyto or accesses stored energy from its associated energy storage device36(1)-36(3) as previously discussed, the excess RF energy or accessedstored energy is from shared energy storage device 92 sharing storedenergy among each of the individual energy storage devices 36(1)-36(2).From the power managers' 44(1)-44(3) perspectives, the shared energystorage device 92 is functionally equivalent to an individual energystorage device 36(1)-36(3).

Providing the shared energy storage device 92 allows a RFID tag20(1)-20(3) to continue to operate if not receiving sufficient RF powerfor RFID tag operation and not enough RF power is contained in itsassociated energy storage device 36(1)-36(3), but sufficient storedenergy is contained in another energy storage device 36(1)-36(3) thatcan be accessed for RFID operation. Providing a shared energy storagedevice 92 allows an increased capacity for storing excess RF energy. Thecapacitances provided in the RFID tags 20(1)-20(3) do not have to beequal. For example, the total capacitance of the shared energy storagedevice 92 may be 81.6 μF, which includes a capacitance of 44 μF in theenergy storage device 36(3) in RFID tag 20(3), and capacitance from theenergy storage devices 36(1), 36(2) in RFID tags 20(1), 20(2), eachhaving a capacitance of 18.8 μF as a non-limiting example. In thisexample, the capacitance provided in the energy storage device 36(3) isgreater than provided in the energy storage devices 36(1) and 36(2),because there are two (2) visual indicators 72(3)(1), 72(3)(2) providedin RFID tag 20(3) that require additional power for operation notincluded in RFID tags 20(1) and 20(2).

Also note that although each of the RFID tags 20(1)-20(3) is shown inFIG. 6 to include their own respective energy storage devices36(1)-36(3), such is not required. Less than all of the RFID tags20(1)-20(3) in FIG. 6 may include an energy storage device 36. In thisscenario, stored energy by one RFID tag 20 may be used to provide powerto another RFID tag 20 that does not include any energy storage device36 if the RFID tag 20 not including the energy storage device 36 iselectrically connected to an energy storage device 36 of another RFIDtag 20.

To illustrate the exemplary performance of the RFID tag 20 in FIG. 2 andthe RFID tag connection system 80 in FIGS. 5 and 6, various graphs areprovided in FIGS. 7A-13 and are described below. FIG. 7A is a graph 100illustrating exemplary charging current available to charge capacitorsin various configurations of the shared energy storage device 92 in theRFID tag connection system 80 in FIGS. 5 and 6 as a function of RFID tagpower margin. The graph 100 includes results while employing theoptional charge pump 76 in the RFID IC 28, as illustrated in FIG. 4 andpreviously described above. The graph 100 has three curves: a firstcurve 102 representing data corresponding to only fiber optic adapter 86in FIG. 5 (i.e., RFID tag 20(3)); a second curve 104 representing datacorresponding to the fiber optic adapter 86 (i.e., RFID tag 20(3)) andone fiber optic connector (i.e., RFID tag 20(1) or RFID tag 20(2)) inFIG. 5; and a third curve 106 representing data corresponding to thefiber optic adapter 86 (i.e., RFID tag 20(3)) and both fiber opticconnectors (i.e., RFID tag 20(1) and RFID tag 20(2)) in FIG. 5. Theresults in graph 100 show that the charging current to charge the sharedenergy storage device 92 is an increasing function with the RFID tagpower margin, since more excess received RF power is captured withincreasing RFID tag power margin and converted to charging current.

FIG. 7B is another graph 110 illustrating exemplary charging currentavailable to charge capacitors in various configurations of the sharedenergy storage device 92 in the RFID tag connection system 80 in FIGS. 5and 6 as a function of RFID tag power margin. The graph 110 includesresults when the optional charge pump 76 in the RFID IC 28 illustratedin FIG. 4 is not employed. The graph 110 has three curves: a first curve112 representing data corresponding to only fiber optic adapter 86 inFIG. 5 (i.e., RFID tag 20(3)); a second curve 114 representing datacorresponding to the fiber optic adapter 86 (i.e., RFID tag 20(3)) andone fiber optic connector (i.e., RFID tag 20(1) or RFID tag 20(2)) inFIG. 5; and a third curve 116 representing data corresponding to thefiber optic adapter 86 (i.e., RFID tag 20(3)) and both fiber opticconnectors (i.e., RFID tag 20(1) and RFID tag 20(2)) in FIG. 5. Theresults in graph 110 also show that the charging current to charge theshared energy storage device 92 is an increasing function with the RFIDtag power margin, since more excess RF power is captured with increasingRFID tag power margin and converted to charging current. However, theresults in graph 110 show more charging current available for chargingthe shared energy storage device 92 than in graph 100 since the chargepump 76 is not employed for the results in graph 110. A tradeoff ofproviding increased voltage when employing the charge pump 76 is lesscurrent.

FIG. 8A is a graph 120 illustrating exemplary times to fully charge theshared energy storage device in the RFID tag connection system in FIGS.5 and 6 at start-up as a function of RFID tag power margin. The graph120 includes results when the optional charge pump 76 in the RFID IC 28illustrated in FIG. 4 is employed. The graph 120 has three curves: afirst curve 122 representing data corresponding to only fiber opticadapter 86 in FIG. 5 (i.e., RFID tag 20(3)); a second curve 124representing data corresponding to the fiber optic adapter 86 (i.e.,RFID tag 20(3)) and one fiber optic connector (i.e., RFID tag 20(1) orRFID tag 20(2)) in FIG. 5; and a third curve 126 representing datacorresponding to the fiber optic adapter 86 (i.e., RFID tag 20(3)) andboth fiber optic connectors (i.e., RFID tag 20(1) and RFID tag 20(2)) inFIG. 5. While more charge current is available from multiple RFID tags20(1)-20(3), the total amount of capacitance of the shared energystorage device 92 also increases with multiple RFID tags 20(1)-20(3).Thus, the results in graph 120 show that total charging time is similarfor all three curves 122, 124, 126.

With continuing reference to FIG. 8A, as an example, consider the caseof 5 dB RFID tag power margin. For a single RFID adapter tag 20(2), itwould take approximately thirty-one (31) seconds to fully charge up thecapacitor bank 38 of the energy storage device 36(2) mounted on the RFIDtag 20(2). For the cases with one or two fiber optic connectors 82(1),82(2) connected into the fiber optic adapter 86, if all RFID tags20(1)-20(3) have 5 dB margin, the total capacitor charge times for theshared energy storage device 92 would be approximately twenty-two (22)seconds and nineteen (19) seconds from start-up, respectively, asillustrated in FIG. 8A. For RFID tag power margins of 12 dB or greater,the capacitor charging time falls below ten (10) seconds for any of thethree (3) scenarios, as shown in curves 122, 124, 126.

FIG. 8B is a graph 130 illustrating exemplary times to fully charge theshared energy storage device in the RFID tag connection system in FIGS.5 and 6 at start-up as a function of RFID tag power margin. The graph130 includes results when the optional charge pump 76 in the RFID IC 28illustrated in FIG. 4 is not employed. The graph 130 has three curves: afirst curve 132 representing data corresponding to only fiber opticadapter 86 in FIG. 5 (i.e., RFID tag 20(3)); a second curve 134representing data corresponding to the fiber optic adapter 86 (i.e.,RFID tag 20(3)) and one fiber optic connector (i.e., RFID tag 20(1) orRFID tag 20(2)) in FIG. 5; and a third curve 136 representing datacorresponding to the fiber optic adapter 86 (i.e., RFID tag 20(3)) andboth fiber optic connectors (i.e., RFID tag 20(1) and RFID tag 20(2)) inFIG. 5. The time to fully charge the energy storage device 36(2) and theshared energy storage device 92 is less than the results provided ingraph 120 in FIG. 8B, because the charge pump 76 was not employedthereby providing more charge current.

When current is accessed from an energy storage device 36 or a sharedenergy storage device 92, the current accessed is a function of thecapacitor voltage level given by:i _(IC) =P _(min) V _(cap),where P_(min) is 7.5 uW in this example. The results for the analysis ofRFID IC 28 operational time for a fully charged energy storage device 36or a shared energy storage device 92 are illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9Bfor four (4) possible configurations of the RFID tag connection systemin FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 9A is a graph 140 illustrating exemplary timesthat certain connection combinations of RFID tags in the RFID tag 20 inFIG. 2 and the RFID tag connection system 80 in FIG. 5 can remainoperational after losing RF power by accessing stored energy from theshared energy storage device 92, when the charge pump 76 is employed.The graph 140 has four bars: a first bar 142 representing datacorresponding to only fiber optic adapter 86 in FIG. 5 (i.e., RFID tag20(3)); a second bar 144 representing data corresponding to the fiberoptic adapter 86 (i.e., RFID tag 20(3)) and one fiber optic connector(i.e., RFID tag 20(1) or RFID tag 20(2)) in FIG. 5; a third bar 146representing data corresponding to the fiber optic adapter 86 (i.e.,RFID tag 20(3)) and both fiber optic connectors (i.e., RFID tag 20(1)and RFID tag 20(2)) in FIG. 5; and a fourth bar 148 representing datacorresponding to only a fiber optic connector 82 in FIG. 5 (i.e., RFIDtag 20(1) or 20(2)). These results in bar 142 predict that the fiberoptic adapter RFID tag 20(3) alone may continue to operate for almosttwenty-three (23) seconds after RF power is lost. This operation time isshorter for the other three cases represented by bars 144, 146, and 148,because while all RFID tags 20(1)-20(3) require the same current tooperate, the RFID tags 20(1), 20(2) for the fiber optic connectors82(1), 82(2) contribute smaller capacitance in this example to theshared energy storage device 92 than the RFID tag 20(3) for the fiberoptic adapter 86. Even so, the results suggest that the three RFID tags20(1)-20(3) can remain on for about fourteen (14) seconds using thestored charge in the shared energy storage device 92, assuming a maximumvoltage of 3.0 V.

FIG. 9B is a graph 150 illustrating exemplary times that certainconnection combinations of RFID tags in the RFID tag 20 in FIG. 2 andthe RFID tag connection system 80 in FIG. 5 can remain operational afterlosing RF power by accessing stored energy from the shared energystorage device 92 to provide power, when the charge pump 76 is notemployed. The graph 150 has four bars: a first bar 152 representing datacorresponding to only fiber optic adapter 86 in FIG. 5 (i.e., RFID tag20(3)); a second bar 154 representing data corresponding to the fiberoptic adapter 86 (i.e., RFID tag 20(3)) and one fiber optic connector(i.e., RFID tag 20(1) or RFID tag 20(2)) in FIG. 5; a third bar 156representing data corresponding to the fiber optic adapter 86 (i.e.,RFID tag 20(3)) and both fiber optic connectors (i.e., RFID tag 20(1)and RFID tag 20(2)) in FIG. 5; and a fourth bar 158 representing datacorresponding to only a fiber optic connector 82 in FIG. 5 (i.e., RFIDtag 20(1) or 20(2)). The times that the RFID tags 20(1)-20(3) remainoperational is less than provided in the results in graph 140 in FIG.9A, because the charge pump 76 was not employed to provide additionalvoltage in the energy storage device 36 or shared energy storage device92. Thus, the stored energy accessed from the energy storage devices 36or shared energy storage device 92 brings the voltage of the energystorage devices 36 or shared energy storage device 92 down below theoperational threshold voltage for RFID tag 20 operation sooner. However,as previously discussed, the advantage of not employing the charge pump76 is less charging time for the energy storage devices 36 or sharedenergy storage device 92.

FIG. 10A is a graph 160 illustrating exemplary energy storage device 36voltage as a function of time for a single RFID tag, such as the RFIDtag 20 in FIG. 2, from startup of the RFID tag during positive powermargin times of the RFID tag. The results in graph 160 are when thecharge pump 76 in FIG. 4 is employed in the RFID IC 28. The graph 160shows that continuous operation of the RFID tag 20 is possible after thecapacitor bank 38 of the energy storage device 36 becomes charged to avoltage level exceeding the RFID tag operational threshold voltage 162(e.g., 1 V) required to operate the RFID IC 28. As shown in FIG. 10A,the voltage across the capacitor bank 38 of the energy storage device 36starts at 0 V when the RFID tag 20 is first turned on. The voltagegradually increases during the periods when the RFID tag 20 is exposedto the excess RF energy received by the RFID tag antenna 26 duringpositive power margin conditions. When the voltage of the capacitor bank38 of the energy storage device 36 exceeds the RFID tag operationalthreshold voltage 162, the energy storage device 36 can start to supplycurrent to the RFID IC 28 for operation during the time periods whennegative power margin conditions exist. If the voltage across thecapacitor bank 38 of the energy storage device 36 exceeds a visualindicator threshold voltage 164, both the RFID tag 20 and the visualindicators 72 in FIG. 4 can be operational.

FIG. 10B is a graph 166 illustrating exemplary energy storage device 36voltage as a function of time for a single RFID tag, such as the RFIDtag 20 in FIG. 2, from start-up of the RFID tag during positive powermargin times of the RFID tag. The results in graph 160 are when thecharge pump 76 in FIG. 4 is not employed in the RFID IC 28. The graph166 shows that continuous operation of the RFID tag 20 is possible afterthe capacitor bank 38 of the energy storage device 36 becomes charged toa voltage level exceeding the RFID tag operational threshold voltage 169(e.g., 1 V) required to operate the RFID IC 28. As shown in FIG. 10B,the voltage across the energy storage device 36 starts at 0 V when theRFID tag 20 is first turned on. The voltage gradually increases duringthe periods when the RFID tag 20 is exposed to the excess RF energyreceived by the RFID tag antenna 26 during positive power marginconditions. When the voltage of the energy storage device 36 exceeds theRFID tag operational threshold voltage 169, the energy storage device 36can start to supply current to the RFID IC 28 for operation during thetime periods when negative power margin conditions exist. The voltageacross the capacitor bank 38 of the energy storage device 36 does notexceed a visual indicator threshold voltage 168, because the charge pump76 in FIG. 4 is not employed to increase the voltage of the excessenergy stored in the energy storage device 36.

As a further explanation of the benefit of the RFID tag connectionsystem 80 with connective RFID tags 20(1)-20(3) to provide shared energystorage device 92, assume that four RFID reader antennas are switchedfrom one to another sequentially by the RFID reader 22 in FIG. 2 with aone (1) second dwell time for each RFID reader antenna. Further assumethat RFID tag 20(1) has a negative power margin with three (3) of thefour (4) RFID reader 22 antennas and 19 dB power margin with the otherRFID reader 22 antenna. Further assume RFID tag 20(2) has negative powermargin with all four (4) RFID reader 22 antennas. Further assume RFIDtag 20(3) has negative power margin with three (3) of the four (4) RFIDreader 22 antennas and 16 dB power margin with the fourth RFID reader 22antenna. The received RF power as a function of time for each of thethree RFID tags 20(1)-20(3) are shown in graphs 170, 172, and 174 inFIGS. 11A-11C respectively. If these were conventional passive RFIDtags, the RFID tags' 20(1)-20(3) ON/OFF states would simply be dictatedby whether the received RF power was above or below the −16 dBm powerthreshold. In that case, RFID tag 20(1) and RFID tag 20(3) would be offthree (3) out of every four (4) seconds. RFID tag 20(2) would never turnon, because RFID tag 20(2) never receives enough RF power from the RFIDreader 22 in this example.

FIGS. 12A-12C are graphs 180, 182, 184 illustrating exemplary on/offstates of the three exemplary electrically connected RFID tags20(1)-20(3), respectively, as a function of time when the excess RFpower storage and power sharing in the RFID tag connection system ofFIGS. 5 and 6 is employed. The voltage level of the capacitor bank 38 inthe energy storage devices 36 is in excess of the RFID tag operationalthreshold voltage from thirteen (13) to fourteen (14) seconds. Afterthis time, the capacitor bank 38 voltage is high enough to sustain allthree RFID tags 20(1)-20(3) during periods of RF power outage. Theon/off states of the RFID tags 20(1)-20(3) are shown in FIGS. 12A-12C,respectively, which show all RFID tags 20(1)-20(3) being continuouslyoperable after the time when the capacitor bank 38 voltage crosses theRFID tag operational threshold voltage. Even RFID tag 20(2) will becontinuously on after this time, although it has negative power marginwith all four (4) RFID reader 22 antennas. RFID tag 20(2) is sustainedby the stored energy in the shared energy storage device 92. This RFIDtag connection system model in FIGS. 12A-12C illustrates behavior andperformance that is not provided with conventional passive RFID tags.

FIG. 13 is a graph 190 that illustrates a possible application ofproviding power from shared energy in the shared energy storage device92 for the RFID tag connection system 80 in FIGS. 5 and 6. Theapplication involves providing current for flashing a visual indicator72 in FIG. 4 attached to a RFID tag 20. In this example, the graph 190illustrates the maximum possible current that could be delivered by thecapacitor bank 38 of the shared energy storage device 92 assuming aflash time of ten (10) milliseconds (ms) and a visual indicator 72threshold voltage of 2.0 V. The results in graph 190 show that at aroundtime=40 seconds, there is positive potential current for a visualindicator 72 flash. After that at approximately time=50 seconds, themaximum potential current stays above the desired two (2) milliamps (mA)visual indicator 72 current threshold 192. Note that if the visualindicator 72 modeled in graph 190 is attached to the fiber optic adapter86 in the RFID tag 20(3) in the example of the RFID tag connectionsystem 80, the visual indicator 72 can be flashed via the shared energystorage device 92 even though RFID tag 20(3) can have negative powermargin with respect to all RFID reader 22 antennas.

The excess RF power storage and power sharing RFID tag connectionsystems disclosed herein can be employed in any application desired forcontinuous RFID tag operation. For example, FIG. 14 is a schematicdiagram of an exemplary communications system 200 that includes RFID tagconnection systems 202(1)-202(3) similar to the RFID tag connectionsystem 80 in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this example, the RFID tag connectionsystems 202(1)-202(3) each include only one fiber optic connector 82(1)connected to the fiber optic adapter 86 to provide the shared energystorage device 92 (see FIG. 6). However, the principles and operation ofthe RF power storage and RF power sharing described above still appliesin the RFID tag connection systems 202(1)-202(3).

With reference to FIG. 14, the communications system is a patch panel204. The patch panel 204 is configured to accept connection from fiberoptic connectors 82(1). For example, the patch panel 204 may be providedin a fiber optic module containing the fiber optic adapters 86 eachconfigured to receive the fiber optic connectors 82(1) to establishoptical connections. As previously discussed with regard to FIG. 6, theRFID tags 20(1), 20(3) include conductors 90(1), 90(2) that areconfigured to electrically connect the energy storage devices 36(1) and36(3) together when the fiber optic connector 82(1) is connected tofiber optic adapter 86. These connections form a shared energy storagedevice that can be used by either RFID tags 20(1), 20(3) in the fiberoptic connector 82(1) and fiber optic adapter 86, respectively, to storeexcess energy derived from excess received RF power and share excessenergy to provide power for RFID tag operation. Alternatively, the patchpanel 204 may be electrical equipment wherein each of the fiber opticadapters 86 are electrical sockets configured to receive components inthe form of electrical plugs to establish electrical connections.

The disclosed technologies can be configured in different ways,resulting in different functionalities. In addition to the examplesprovided above, the RFID tags disclosed herein may be located on a plug(such as a connector), a socket (such as an adapter), a housing, acabinet, an equipment rack, a component or patch panel, a separateobject, or other components (or portions thereof). Further, althoughexamples of components employing the excess RF power storage and powersharing RFID tags and RFID tag connections systems are employed withelectrical and/or optical equipment, component assemblies, and cables,the components disclosed herein can be associated with any type ofarticles of manufacture for any type of application. For example,components with excess RF power storage and power sharing RFID tags andRFID tag connection systems may be integrated at or near variousinterconnection locations and articles of manufacture along anelectrical or optical network, at or near various interconnectionlocations along a utility distribution system, such as distributionsystems dedicated to energy (e.g., electric power, oil, natural gas),information (telephone, cable, DSL or internet access) or water andsewer service. This network can be incorporated into any system, such asan automobile electrical harness; an optical network for an airplane,ship or ground-based transportation system; a control network forrailroad switchgear; or a LAN integrated into a building. Componentswith excess energy storage and energy sharing RFID tags and RFID tagconnection systems can also be integrated at or near variousinterconnection locations and articles of manufacture along a utilitydistribution system, such as distribution systems dedicated to energy(e.g., electric power, oil, natural gas), information (telephone, cable,DSL or internet access) or water and sewer services. Components with theexcess energy storage and energy sharing RFID tags and RFID tagconnection systems could be temporarily installed networks andinterconnection systems and articles of manufacture such as fire hoses,sports or performance events, or power and communications networksassociated with military deployment. Other applications include specificlocations across a two-dimensional (2D) array of panels, examples ofwhich include floor tiles with temperature or pressure sensors forbuilding security or environmental control, ceiling tiles withintegrated motion or fire sensors, or load sensors integrated intomodular sections that are assembled to create floors, roofs, roads orbridges.

Any functionalities disclosed in any embodiments may be incorporated orprovided in any other embodiments with suitable circuitry and/ordevices. Although the illustrated embodiments are directed to excess RFpower storage and power sharing passive RFID tags and passive RFID tagconnection systems, further embodiments include one or more semi-passiveor active RFID tags depending upon the particular functionality of theexcess RF power storage and power sharing RFID tag connection systemdesired. The excess RFID RF power storage and power sharing RFID tagscan also be employed in any application desired, including but notlimited to fiber optic connectors, optical fiber cables and cableassemblies, fiber optic cable management hardware and devices,electrical connectors, medical devices, pharmaceutical containers,credit cards, employee badges, facility entry devices, fluid couplings,beverage dispensing containers, industrial controls, environmentalmonitoring devices, connection of consumer electronics, electronicsassemblies and subassemblies, containers and lids, doors and doorframes,windows and sills, and many other applications.

Those of skill in the art would further appreciate that the variousillustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithms describedin connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implementedas electronic hardware, instructions stored in memory or in anothercomputer-readable medium and executed by a processor or other processingdevice, or combinations of both. Electrical coupling can include bothinternal and external coupling or accessibility. Memory disclosed hereinmay be any type and size of memory and may be configured to store anytype of information desired. To clearly illustrate thisinterchangeability, various illustrative components, blocks, modules,circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms oftheir functionality. How such functionality is implemented depends uponthe particular application, design choices, and/or design constraintsimposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement thedescribed functionality in varying ways for each particular application,but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing adeparture from the scope of the present invention.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits describedin connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implementedor performed with a processor, a DSP, an Application Specific IntegratedCircuit (ASIC), an FPGA or other programmable logic device, discretegate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or anycombination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein.A processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, theprocessor may be any conventional processor, controller,microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implementedas a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP anda microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or moremicroprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suchconfiguration.

The embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in hardware and ininstructions that are stored in hardware, and may reside, for example,in volatile memory, non-volatile memory, Random Access Memory (RAM),flash memory, Read Only Memory (ROM), Electrically Programmable ROM(EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), registers,hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of computerreadable medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupledto the processor such that the processor can read information from, andwrite information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, thestorage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and thestorage medium may reside in an ASIC. The ASIC may reside in a remotestation. In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium mayreside as discrete components in a remote station, base station, orserver.

It is also noted that the operational steps described in any of theexemplary embodiments herein are described to provide examples anddiscussion. The operations described may be performed in numerousdifferent sequences other than the illustrated sequences. Furthermore,operations described in a single operational step may actually beperformed in a number of different steps. Additionally, one or moreoperational steps discussed in the exemplary embodiments may becombined. It is to be understood that the operational steps illustratedin the flow chart diagrams may be subject to numerous differentmodifications as will be readily apparent to one of skill in the art.Those of skill in the art would also understand that information andsignals may be represented using any of a variety of differenttechnologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands,information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referencedthroughout the above description may be represented by voltages,currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, opticalfields or particles, or any combination thereof.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the embodiments set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which theembodiments pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in theforegoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is tobe understood that the description and claims are not to be limited tothe specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and otherembodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appendedclaims. It is intended that the embodiments cover the modifications andvariations of the embodiments provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents. Although specific terms areemployed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense onlyand not for purposes of limitation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag,comprising: an integrated circuit (IC); an antenna electrically coupledto the IC, the antenna configured to receive RF power from receivedwireless RF signals; an energy storage device coupled to the IC; a powermanager configured to receive the RF power received by the antenna; thepower manager further configured to: operate the IC with the received RFpower if the received RF power meets or exceeds an operational thresholdpower for the IC; and store excess energy derived from excess receivedRF power in the energy storage device if the received RF power exceedsthe operational threshold power for the IC; and one or more datacommunications conductors in electrical contact with the IC andconfigured to releasably interconnect with one or more datacommunication conductors of a second RFID tag; wherein the IC is furtherconfigured to exchange data with a second IC of the second RFID tag whenthe one or more data communications conductors are releasablyinterconnected with the one or more data communications conductors ofthe second RFID tag.
 2. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the powermanager is further configured to access the stored excess energy in theenergy storage device to provide power to operate the IC if the receivedRF power from the antenna is less than the operational threshold powerfor the IC.
 3. The RFID tag of claim 2, wherein the power manager isfurther configured to access the stored excess energy in the energystorage device if a voltage derived from the received RF power is lessthan an operational threshold voltage for the IC.
 4. The RFID tag ofclaim 2, wherein the power manager is further configured to access thestored excess energy in the energy storage device if a current derivedfrom received RF power is less than the operational threshold currentfor the IC.
 5. The RFID tag of claim 2, wherein the power manager isfurther configured to access the stored excess energy in the energystorage device to provide power to operate the IC when the RFID tag isnot receiving wireless RF signals from a RFID reader.
 6. The RFID tag ofclaim 2, further comprising a power import/export switch coupled to thepower manager, the power import/export switch having an energy storagesetting and an energy access setting, the power manager furtherconfigured to: set the power import/export switch to the energy storagesetting to direct excess energy derived from the excess received RFpower to the energy storage device if the received RF power exceeds theoperational threshold power for the IC; and set the power import/exportswitch to the energy access setting to access the stored excess energyin the energy storage device to provide power to operate the IC if thereceived RF power from the antenna is less than the operationalthreshold power for the IC.
 7. The RFID tag of claim 2, wherein the ICis further configured to access the stored excess energy in the energystorage device to provide power to operate the IC to detect a conditionrelating to the RFID tag detected by a condition responsive devicecoupled to the IC.
 8. The RFID tag of claim 2, further comprising acondition responsive device coupled to the IC, the condition responsivedevice configured to detect an occurrence of an event relating to theRFID tag to cause the IC to access the stored excess energy in theenergy storage device to provide power to operate a visual indicatorcoupled to the IC.
 9. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the power manageris configured to store the excess energy when a voltage derived from theexcess received RF power exceeds an operational threshold voltage forthe IC.
 10. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the power manager isconfigured to store the excess energy when a current derived from theexcess received RF power exceeds an operational threshold current forthe IC.
 11. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the energy storage deviceis comprised of a capacitor bank comprised of at least one capacitor.12. The RFID tag of claim 11, wherein the at least one capacitor iscomprised of a plurality of capacitors disposed in parallel to eachother to provide for redundant capacitance in the energy storage device.13. The RFID tag of claim 11, wherein the power manager is furtherconfigured to charge the capacitor bank with the excess energy derivedfrom the excess received RF power exceeding the operational thresholdpower for the IC.
 14. The RFID tag of claim 1, further comprising apower rectifier configured to receive the RF power from the antenna andrectify the received RF power into a rectified voltage.
 15. The RFID tagof claim 14, wherein the power manager is configured to operate the ICwith the rectified voltage if the rectified voltage meets or exceeds anoperational threshold voltage for the IC.
 16. The RFID tag of claim 14,wherein the power manager is configured to operate the IC with currentderived from the power rectifier if the current meets or exceeds anoperational threshold current for the IC.
 17. The RFID tag of claim 14,further comprising a charge pump configured to receive the rectifiedvoltage from the power rectifier and increase voltage of the rectifiedvoltage stored in the energy storage device.
 18. The RFID tag of claim1, further comprising a visual indicator electrically coupled to the IC,wherein the power manager is further configured to activate the visualindicator with received RF power from the antenna if the received RFpower exceeds an operational threshold power.
 19. The RFID tag of claim18, wherein the power manager is configured to activate the visualindicator with received RF power from the antenna if the received RFpower exceeds a visual indicator threshold power greater than theoperational threshold power.
 20. The RFID tag of claim 1, furthercomprising a visual indicator electrically coupled to the IC, whereinthe power manager is further configured to activate the visual indicatorwith power provided by stored energy in the energy storage device if thereceived RF power from the antenna is less than an operational thresholdpower.
 21. The RFID tag of claim 18, further comprising a currentlimiter configured to limit current of the RF power provided to thevisual indicator.
 22. The RFID tag of claim 1, further comprising one ormore energy sharing conductors coupled to the energy storage device;wherein the energy storage device is further configured to provide powerfrom stored energy to a second RFID tag when the one or more energysharing conductors are physically connected to one or more energysharing conductors of the second RFID tag.
 23. The RFID tag of claim 1comprised of a passive RFID tag.
 24. The RFID tag of claim 1 comprisedof a semi-active RFID tag comprised of a battery for operation, whereinthe energy storage device is comprised of the battery.
 25. The RFID tagof claim 1, wherein the antenna is configured to receive the wireless RFsignals comprising RF power from a RFID reader.
 26. The RFID tag ofclaim 1, further comprising a memory accessible to the IC, the ICconfigured to store information associated with the RFID tag in thememory.
 27. The RFID tag of claim 1 disposed in a communicationscomponent.
 28. The RFID tag of claim 27, wherein the communicationscomponent is comprised of at least one of a connector and an adapter.29. The RFID tag of claim 1, wherein the one or more communicationsconductors are electrically connected to the one or more communicationsconductors of the second RFID tag, and wherein the IC is furtherconfigured to communicate with the second IC of the second RFID tag whenthe one or more communications conductors are electrically connected tothe one or more communications conductors of the second RFID tag.
 30. Amethod of providing power for radio-frequency identification (RFID) tagoperation, comprising: receiving wireless RF signals including RF powerby an antenna coupled to an integrated circuit (IC); operating the ICwith the received RF power if the received RF power meets or exceeds anoperational threshold power for the IC; storing excess energy derivedfrom excess received RF power in an energy storage device if thereceived RF power exceeds the operational threshold power for the IC;and the IC communicating data with a second IC of a second RFID tag whenone or more data communications conductors in electrical contact withthe IC are releasably interconnected with one or more communicationsconductors of the second RFID tag.
 31. The method of claim 30, furthercomprising accessing the stored excess energy in the energy storagedevice to provide power to operate the IC if the received RF power fromthe antenna is less than the operational threshold power for the IC. 32.The method of claim 31, comprising: setting a power import/export switchto an energy storage setting to direct excess energy derived from theexcess received RF power to the energy storage device if the received RFpower exceeds the operational threshold power for the IC; and settingthe power import/export switch to an energy access setting to access thestored excess energy in the energy storage device to provide power tooperate the IC if the received RF power from the antenna is less thanthe operational threshold power for the IC.
 33. The method of claim 30,further comprising directing the excess received RF power from thereceived RF power to a charge pump to increase a voltage of the excessenergy derived from the excess received RF power stored in the energystorage device.
 34. The method of claim 30, further comprisingactivating a visual indicator coupled to the IC with received RF powerfrom the antenna greater than an operational threshold power.
 35. Themethod of claim 30, further comprising activating a visual indicatorcoupled to the IC with power provided by stored energy in the energystorage device if the received RF power from the antenna is not greaterthan the operational threshold power.
 36. The method of claim 30,further comprising activating a visual indicator coupled to the IC withpower provided by stored energy in the energy storage device if thereceived RF power from the antenna is less than an operational thresholdpower.
 37. The method of claim 30, further comprising the energy storagedevice providing power from stored energy to a second RFID tag when oneor more energy sharing conductors coupled to the energy storage deviceare physically connected to one or more energy sharing conductors of thesecond RFID tag.
 38. The method of claim 30, wherein the ICcommunicating with the second IC of the second RFID tag comprises the ICcommunicating with the second IC of the second RFID tag when the one ormore communications conductors coupled to the IC are electricallyconnected to the one or more communications conductors of the secondRFID tag.
 39. A radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag connectionsystem, comprising: a first fiber optic connector including: a firstintegrated circuit; a first antenna electrically coupled to the firstintegrated circuit, the first antenna configured to receive RF powerfrom received wireless RF signals; a first energy storage device coupledto the first integrated circuit; a first power manager configured toreceive the RF power received by the first antenna, the first powermanager further configured to: operate the first integrated circuit withthe received RF power if the received RF power meets or exceeds anoperational threshold power for the first integrated circuit; and storeexcess energy derived from excess received RF power in the first energystorage device if the received RF power exceeds the operationalthreshold power for the first integrated circuit; and at least one firstdata communication conductor in electrical contact with the firstintegrated circuit and accessible from an exterior of the first fiberoptic connector; and a second fiber optic connector configured tophysically connect with the first fiber optic connector, the secondfiber optic connector including: a second integrated circuit; a secondantenna electrically coupled to the second integrated circuit, thesecond antenna configured to receive RF power from received wireless RFsignals; a second energy storage device coupled to the second integratedcircuit; a second power manager configured to receive the RF powerreceived by the second antenna, the second power manager furtherconfigured to: operate the second integrated circuit with the receivedRF power if the received RF power meets or exceeds an operationalthreshold power for the second integrated circuit; and store excessenergy derived from excess received RF power in the second energystorage device if the received RF power exceeds the operationalthreshold power for the integrated circuit; and at least one second datacommunication conductor in electrical contact with the second integratedcircuit and accessible from an exterior of the second fiber opticconnector; and wherein when the first fiber optic connector isphysically connected the second fiber optic connector, the at least onefirst data communication conductor is physically connected to the atleast one second data communication conductor such that the firstintegrated circuit can exchange data with the second integrated circuit.